Dean Barkley on Corporations

Independent Senate challenger

Don't reward companies who try to escape taxes abroad

Q: There's a bill on homeland security that had in it a Wellstone amendment. Paul Wellstone said when he added this amendment, "We're not going to let these companies set up these dummy corporations and not pay their fair share of taxes.
We're going to shut the loophole. And as long as they do it, if they want to renounce their U.S. citizenship, they're not going to be eligible for government contracts. It's that simple." House Republicans have taken the Wellstone amendment out of that
homeland security bill.

A: I wasn't happy with what was in that bill that came over. Now I don't know what I'm going to do.

Q: But you're not happy with letting corporations operate so they can find the best tax climate. Do you think
that's being a traitor?

A: No. I mean, businesses are out to make money. But government has an obligation to not have to reward those who try to escape the taxes. I believe that Senator Wellstone's position was well-founded. I believed in it.

Source: Interview on Crossfire with Paul Begala and Robert Novak
Nov 18, 2002